Friday night we had our annual Christmas party for the Stanly County City School Bus Drivers. We’ve been hosting this party for three years since Jim became the Bus Coordinator for the city schools in Stanly County. I think we had our biggest crowd to date this year so I’d like to think the drivers enjoy the gathering and fellowship.

Each year I look forward to planning a small gift from us for each of the drivers to show our appreciation for all they do every day driving the children and assisting to make Jim’s job easier. Bus drivers are probably some of the least recognized school employees by other staff and parents and yet they are all, down to the last one, caring individuals who’s main priority is to get your children to and from school safely every day. They are the first school employee many children see every day and the last at the end of the day and they take this responsibility seriously and personally. School bus drivers notice the child who maybe doesn’t have a warm enough coat or who’s home life may not be the best and they often advocate on behalf of those students. School bus drivers are unsung heroes.

This year’s gift was a kitchen whisk filled with candy and a punny note reading, “We whisk you a Merry Christmas.” Attached to the whisk was a Thank You card from us filled with lottery scratch offs…..I know a few of the drivers won small cash prizes but each year I hope I buy at least one big winner for someone. I realize the gifts are small but the appreciation from the drivers is immense. I’d like to hope they look forward to receiving these gifts each year.

At each party every year we have a gift exchange with a $20 gift limit. This gift exchange is optional and we stress that you don’t have to bring a gift to attend the party. I’m always amazed at the variety of the gifts brought and the fun and laughter as gifts are exchanged, traded and frozen. This year the two favorite gifts exchanged multiple times were a beautiful Christmas snow globe that I believe was also a music box and a bottle of Christmas wine. This year Jim gifted a drone which I forgot to place in the pile of presents and it wasn’t until all the gifts were opened and Jim asked where his gift was that I realized my mistake. The last person to have opened a gift elected to trade his gift for the new mystery gift and was quite excited to find a drone. I gifted a Scentsy mini warmer and some Christmas scented wax bars. The gift Jim received was a Food Lion gift card and I received a gift certificate to the Sweet Shoppe which I plan to use to buy a Christmas cookie decorating kit that they do every year to bring to the Domestic Violence shelter when I work Christmas Eve and decorate Christmas cookies with our guests.

Every year I try to think of a clever party favor as a thank you for attending. This year I turned the party favors into a game. I made a Christmas tree punchboard filled with stocking stuffer type gifts–bath bombs, sleep masks, candy, light up Christmas party jewelry, hot cocoa and gift cards among the many prizes. I put one grand prize gift card of $50 and two runner-up gift cards of $25 each hidden throughout the prizes. The other gift cards were nominal $10 to places like Sonic, Starbucks, McDonald’s, Burger King, etc. The way we played the game was by everyone getting a punch prior to starting the gift exchange, everyone getting a punch at the time they chose a gift for the exchange, and then everyone getting a punch at the end of the party before going home. I thought I knew where the grand prize was hidden and when the person punched there I remarked, “Oh, I hope you like this; you just punched the grand prize!” but as she emptied out the cup, there was no gift card so I became quite confused. Toward the end of the party, someone pointed out that there was still something in the cup and there it was! The winner was surprised and pleased when she discovered what the grand prize was and kept saying, “When I punched there you told me I’d won the grand prize, then you said you must have forgotten where you hid it. I’m sure glad it was there! I can’t believe I missed it.” All in all I believe the punch board was a rousing success and everyone enjoyed this game. Not sure how I’m going to do this next year. I think everyone would like another punch board!

The drivers made a really nice presentation to Jim. They told him how much they appreciate his leadership and presented him with a card signed by everyone with a Cabella’s gift card and cash inside. Now he can buy all the fishing gear and camping supplies he’d like. It was awfully nice of them to think of him in such a generous way.

All and all I’d say this year’s party was a success. Fun was had by all, good food and good drink along with plenty of laughter and friendship. Now to start planning next year’s party!